Black Magic by Megan Derr Read Free Book Online Page B

realized who he was. "You there!" the one at the head of the group snapped and strode toward him, armor and sword belt rattling, creaking, boots scuffing on the stone floor. His dark purple tunic was stained, dirty, and what looked like dried blood covered the knuckles of his right hand. "What do you think you're doing, skulking about the castle?" He grabbed Koray's arms and shook him roughly, fingers biting hard enough to bruise. His breath was rank, smelling of cheap wine and meat and silversmoke.
    In the wavering light of the torches, his face looked mean; it was the face of a man who kicked things just for the pleasure of their screams. How had such a man become a paladin? What possible purpose could the Goddess see in such a man? "Unhand me," Koray said coldly and tried to twist free—but that only made the man hold him tighter, and Koray only barely bit back a cry of pain. He would not give the bastard the satisfaction.
    "What are you doing wandering the castle, soul-eater?"
    "Nothing," Koray said. "I am used to being awake at night and could not sleep. I thought to familiarize myself with the castle, that is all."
    Predictably, the men all sneered and jeered—except one in the back, who silently stepped away, then turned and quickly walked off, going back the way they had come. Koray tried to ignore the bitterness that welled up that the man had fled rather than stand up to his friends, but what had he expected?
    Koray snarled as the men dragged him off, moving so quickly he could not gain a proper foothold, and they had such a grip on his arms that he could not reach for his dagger. He could only snarl and struggle to break free as they moved him along, out of the castle and out into the ward, where they threw him to the ground.
    One of the men knelt and drew Koray's dagger, flipping it easily in his hand, catching it smoothly by the hilt with every toss. Then he threw it across the ward and mockingly smacked Koray's cheek. Koray continued to glare at them as he was allowed to stand up, drawing his magic to him, hoping he had enough to do something to break free without causing harm. If he hurt them, no one would ever listen to him.
    His thoughts flitted to Sorin, but he banished that notion immediately. There was no help there.
    Though the violence the men were intent upon was nothing to ignore, the ghosts were his real concern. Strong emotion brought more life energy to the surface, made it easier to leech away—and the more that was leeched, the more that rose up in a vicious cycle that would end unpleasantly if he did not stop it. "I mean no harm," he said. "I really was only—"
    He cried out in startled pain as he was backhanded, the bastard paladin who struck him still wearing his gauntlets. Koray could feel the blood on his cheek, more in his mouth, and his eyes watered from the force of the blow.
    "I've seen necromancers before. You sleep in graveyards and steal souls. You're filthy, almost-demons, and you shouldn't be in the castle, I don't care what the high and mighty Sorin says." He made to slap Koray again and Koray shoved him away.
    "Leave me be!" he snarled. "Get a priest to verify I have done no wrong and do not touch me until you have proof I deserve to be punished."
    Someone shoved him from behind, laughing cruelly, and rough hands grabbed him, smacked him, pinched and twisted, shoved him some more, and Koray heard the awful sound of his clothes tearing. Someone yanked on his hair, bringing sharp tears to his eyes—
    And as quickly as that his, world was reduced to yet another nightmare. Koray did what he could to block and fight the worst of it and prayed silently that he would pass out sooner rather than later.
    "Enough!" The single word was roared so loudly, and resonated with so much power, that the castle seemed to shake with it and everyone in the ward went still. Brilliant purple light flashed and the men assaulting Koray fell away with pained cries, dropping to their knees and holding